"I beg you, sir Dwarf," she pleas to Dwal. "I don't eat bones. The foul wizard brings me foul stew. I just want to kill him and then go home." She covers her face in her hands and sobs.

Gerrard:

Holding the door open, Gerrard motions for the others to go through.  At Dwal's words, he says, "Of course Brother Fiercehammer, you are quite right.  How rude of me."  Turning to the lady, he fumbles with his pack and gets out some food and drink, saying, "Here you go, my lady, you must be terribly hungry after your ordeal."

Peri:

Peri's mind is buzzing with suspicion. He begins to worry that maybe he's just paranoid, then thinks back on their progress down the hallway. Gerrard was seething, spoiling for a fight. So much so Peri had been worried he and Dwal would come to blows. If anything, this beautiful woman should be a painful reminder of the loss of his prime years and he should be even more upset. But now he's standing aside, inviting the others to go through the door ahead of him? No, everything he knows of the nobleman leads him to think he'd be the first into danger. This just about clinches it in Peri's mind: the woman must be controlling Gerrard. Being a caster himself, he knows of one quick way to mess with another's concentration. While Gerrard is distracted fishing in his pack, Peri punches the woman hard in the belly (no spear because he's still not 100% certain). Unarmed Attack: 25 for 6 damage.

Peri's blow doesn't connect, as she dodges as quick as lightning. But she doubles over, perhaps in fear, perhaps to protect herself. She shrieks and looks at Peri in horror.

Gerrard:

"Foul Knave!  I'll teach you not to strike a lady!" cries the aged noble.

Gerrard draws his blades and strikes quickly at Peri's midsection, carefully avoiding his face so as not to spoil his lady's planned dinner.  As the halfling is currently unarmed, Gerrard prepares to parry or riposte instead of launching a disarming attack.

Elegant Fencing Rapier:  Attack: 7 Damage: 8

Main Gauche:  Attack: 17 Damage: 5

Action Surge Elegant Fencing Rapier:  Attack: 14 Damage: 6

Initiative:

Kei: 9
Gerrard:  24
Peri:  20
Dwal:  12
Oceanus:  8
Trill:  8
Bjorn:  17
Cowering woman:  13

In a flurry of wild strokes, Gerrard's Main Gauche strikes Peri in the belly, leaving a bloody gash. (The first rapier swing went wild; the second was expertly dodged by the nimble halfling.)

Peri may act next. 

Peri:

"She's usin' ya, you damned fool! Did that ghost rob your wits when he stole your youth?" Now entirely convinced (right or wrong) the woman is controlling Gerrard, Peri attempts to nail her to the wall with his spear (18 for 12 damage). He follows with a merciless knee to her wounded midsection (11 for 7 damage).

Peri drives his spear into the cowering woman. She screams as it tears a gash in her shoulder. "Please! Save me!" she cries, tearfully.

Bjorn flutters into the air, uncertain what to do.

The woman springs up, grabs Gerrard, and kisses him hard. He visibly wilts, becoming paler and perhaps looking even older than he did a minute ago.

Dwal and Kei may act.

Gerrard:

Totally taken off guard by a kiss in the middle of combat, Gerrard has no defense against this beautiful woman.

Constitution Save:  19
Wisdom Save: 10

Dwal

Dwal will cast Guiding Bolt at the woman. (2nd level)

Hit: 18
Damage: 22

Dwal yells "Release him, witch."

Kei

This poor sod. He keeps getting molested by undead. At least this one is pretty. Kei chuckles at his own thoughts and then launches into action. Peri and Dwal seem to have the woman in hand so Kei's attention remains on Gerrard. "Can't have you stabbing us anymore youn....old man" he says to the nobleman. He traces Gerrard's silhouette in the air infront of him and then hugs the air as if to grapple the outline.

Hold Person Wis save 13

Gerrard:

Wisdom Save:  1

The aged noble has time to speak one confused word, then freezes in place, locked in an embrace with the lady of his nightmares...

”Esmerelda?”

Gerrard takes 18 points of psychic damage. He staggers, looking frail and exhausted.

The woman neatly dodges Dwal's arcane blast as Gerrard stiffens in place.

Oceanus, confused, readies his trident, unsure who to use it on.

Gerrard, paralyzed, may act next (or at least may roll again to be released from Kei's spell.) Then Peri may act.

Gerrard:

Weak and weary, Gerrard nonetheless instinctually fights against the paralysis.

Wisdom Save at the end of his turn:  5

Peri:

Peri makes an arcane sign with his hand and points at the "woman", placing a fey hex upon it. "The faeries confound your beguiling mind!" (Disadvantage on Wisdom saves). Then he springs at her like striking snake. 13 for 7 piercing + 5 necrotic damage.

She ducks cleanly out of the way of Peri's strike. "Why are you attacking me??" she shrieks. "The wizard is right down there. It's him! It's him!" She looks panicked and confused.

Dwal and Kei may act.

Kei

Focus plainly on Gerrard to keep him from attacking the party, Kei musters his arcane ability and lets loose his own hex if sorts. His words for the ears of only the phantasm.

Psychic damage 11 Wis Save DC 13

Dwal

Dwal casts Magic Missile at 2nd level, targeting Peri.

1st missile damage: 2
2nd missile damage: 3
3rd missile damage:3
4th missile damage: 2

A quartet of glowing missiles sears the fearless halfling for 13 damage.

Oceanus looks from Gerrard to Peri to Dwal to the woman, utterly confused by what's happening.

Gerrard:

Though he cannot speak or move, Gerrard’s eyes widen...